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October 7, 2009
Will 'SNL' skit sink hopes for Obama?
Posted: 01:45 PM ET
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Fred Armisen plays Barack Obama on SNL.
Fred Armisen plays Barack Obama on SNL.

Ed Rollins
CNN Senior Political Contributor

Since its debut on October 11, 1975, "Saturday Night Live" has spoofed, ridiculed and hammered presidents and other political figures without regard to political affiliation or any other sensitivities.

The perfect parroting of Sarah Palin after her vice president nomination, by the immensely talented Tina Fey, started the downward spiraling of the governor. People started looking at her in a different light, and she was judged as a less serious candidate.

Saturday's skit portraying President Obama as a man who made a lot of promises and hasn't been able to fulfill many - if any - has been analyzed over and over with a constant rerun of the "SNL" clip.

In the comedy skit, the president is asked about unrealized campaign promises, including closing Gitmo, combating global warming, allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, withdrawing from Iraq, improving the status of the fight in Afghanistan, reforming health care and several others. On screen the response on a check list was: that each item was "not done."

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17 Comments
More about: Barack Obama •  Ed Rollins
17 Comments
Cindy   October 7th, 2009 11:01 am ET

What is sinking Obama's hopes is that he has his hands in too many fires and isn't finishing anything that he starts. He jumps from one thing to another when the going gets tough. People are finally starting to see the light that he is mainly all talk and no do.

Cindy..Ga.

Mike, Syracuse, NY   October 7th, 2009 11:08 am ET

It's about time SNL took on Obama. The skit was hilarious, and unfortunately every item on the checklist was absolutely true. Obama has failed to deliver in an epic way. It's about time the American public takes notice and starts holding him accounatble.

Debi   October 7th, 2009 11:44 am ET

Its true. Some of us have lost hope and faith in Obama. He was supposed to help familes with foreclosures and bailed on that. Jobs are gone. Nobody came home from Iraq. Money is so tight people are destitute. I personally went out door to door for votes for Obama. At this time, I regret it and I wouldnt do it again. I can no longer defend Obama at any point. 2009 has been the worst year in my life. Thanks Obama!

Brandon   October 7th, 2009 12:28 pm ET

The thing with this skit is it's blatantly a cry from the left to pressure Obama into pushing his agenda he campaigned for especially with the majority he has, they are not begging for republican policies. This is a conversation between the president and people who voted for him. So the people who think yaaay this is for us, better know their place. I guarantee he still has the support of the left , he just needs to manhandle these republicans and do what was asked of him nov 4th.

g l   October 7th, 2009 12:45 pm ET

he was handed a mega mess-i thing it will take longer then ayear to show positive results

Terrence   October 7th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

I think he got into the health care thing to deep when we have more urgent matters at hand. That bill even if passed will take years to get going but we need jabs now. I lost my job and just got a forcloser letter today. So i took an overseas position to keep what i worl so hard for so maybe i will be able to afford health care.

Anna   October 7th, 2009 1:48 pm ET

I am tired of this. The question I would like to see answered is this one: how long would any one need to clean-up that mess?
For all the things that seemed "easy" to do ie "don't ask, don't tell": why isn't it done? There should be a reason, or lack of reason, so give it to us for heaven's sake, it is your job, after all !!!
So take the promises, tell us where we were during the Bush years, what have been achieved, etc ...

Jana   October 7th, 2009 1:50 pm ET

Give Obama a chance. It took 8 years to screw up America and that can't be undone in just 9 months.

Jeannine   October 7th, 2009 1:50 pm ET

Its been less than a year folks, these kind of epic changes dont happen overnight, and any one who understands how govt works knows you cant walk in make everything happen right away. Give the guy some time.

Fred   October 7th, 2009 1:53 pm ET

What you folks are forgetting is that it took eight years to get to this point.
McCain would be in the same spot if he were elected..patience people...

Michelle   October 7th, 2009 1:54 pm ET

You can't live through a hurricane [for 8 years] and expect the cleanup to be done in less than a year. FEMA taught us that!

Renee   October 7th, 2009 1:56 pm ET

While satire is able to make light of some serious situations, it's hard to deny that Obama has at least tried to make serious headway into these issues. We have a 3 branch system, a lot of disappointed people, and elected officials who have their own interests and ideas in mind.

At least Obama can point to outside forces such as votes and security as the reasons why his promises/hopes for his presidency have not come to fruition...Palin was a downward spiral from the minute she got into public office- it took SNL writers to make her funny.

Joshua   October 7th, 2009 2:50 pm ET

It ain't even been a full year yet!! Give the man a chance, bush didn't even get half the bs talk that president obama is getting!!!

Phillip   October 7th, 2009 3:09 pm ET

There's a reason why Barack hasn't met the promises hes made yet since during his campaign; he's that busy. Majority of us Americans are impatient with things, thats why everything is such a mess now. It didn't take one day to mess everything up from the start, so of course its not going to take a day to fix everything now.

Lara   October 7th, 2009 3:34 pm ET

What's absurd is that people are foolish enough to think Obama was gonna fix all our troubles in ONE year. If you're disappointed in Obama's performance thus far, you have yourself to blame. Not because you elected him but because you're unrealistic. Obama inherited an absolute mess. Our economy didn't reach this current state over night so why would you think it would be fixed over night???

Let's get real people! Start thinking long-term instead of NOW NOW NOW!!

Lisa A. Philadelphia, PA   October 7th, 2009 3:48 pm ET

I'm sorry, but have any politicians ever fulfilled all of their campaign promises? What percent even try to deliver on one or two? I say, let's compare the man to other men and see where he stands. Maybe he won't measure up, maybe he will. He is just a man, and a politician at that.

Brian Ceder   October 7th, 2009 4:02 pm ET

History is repeating itself, everybody is looking for another easy quick fix of there problems. Just like the expensive cars,homes,creditcards that got us in this financial mess.Obama is not the problem, the mess is very big and the poor guy needs time to fix it. Americans stop with your instant gratification mentality, it's not going to be fix overnight.

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